BINF 8770: Building Your Science Communication Toolbox

This course uses material from the following two textbooks:

• Kearns, Faith. Getting to the heart of science communication: a guide to effective engagement. Island Press, 2021.
• Besley, John C., and Anthony Dudo. (Strategic science communication: A guide to setting the right objectives for more effective public engagement.)[https://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/12411/strategic-science-communication] JHU Press, 2022.

Course Schedule:

Week 1: Course Intro

• Finding our goals and values
• SciComm categories, tools, and audiences

Week 2: What is Science Communication?

• What is Science Communication? Careers, Case Studies, and Mistaken Assumptions
• Pre-Class Reading: Kearns Ch. 1 and 2

Week 3:

• The importance of building relationships, and how to navigate facts and feelings in SciComm
• Pre-Class Reading: Kearns Ch. 3 and 4

Week 4:

• Building listening skills, and learning how to navigate conflict and collective trauma
• Pre-Class Reading: Kearns Ch. 5, 6, and 7

Week 5:

• Strategic science communication – brainstorming your strategy, implementation, and evaluation
• Pre-Class Reading: Besley & Dudo Ch. 1

Week 6:

• The Science Deficit Model and the pitfalls of pursuing science knowledge as a communications goal
• Pre-Class Reading: Besley & Dudo Ch. 2

Week 7:

• Strategic Science Communication: Show warmth and integrity, and be willing to listen
• Pre-Class Reading: Besley & Dudo Ch. 3, 4, and 5

Week 8:

• Strategic Science Communication: Show you are not that different, show competence, and share risks and benefits
• Pre-Class Reading: Besley & Dudo Ch. 6, 7, and 8

Week 9:

• Strategic Science Communication: Share what other people think is normal, foster self-efficacy, and share emotions and frames (carefully!)
• Pre-Class Reading: Besley & Dudo Ch. 9, 10, and 11

Week 10:

• Class Wrap-up and Showcase: Presenting your Strategic SciComm Plan
• Pre-Class Reading: Besley & Dudo Ch. 12